The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-10-07
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and to prevent their ~encroaching up
ON its peaceful territory and breaking
it's refreshing quietude, the secret OF
it's whereabouts must remain O. mys-
terry.
1t lies in a tiny bay, all wooded
down to the waters brink, with green
Hills rising at the back, and away to
the right there is good cover for game
in the thick, half-wild tangle OF under
growth, where the white-tailed rab-
bits scurry about by hundreds, or sit
summing themselves in inanimate
brown heaps OF lazy luxury. A sud
den bend inland discIoses a beautiful
estuary, which winds it's way among
the foot Of the hills, looking soft and
silent, with scarcely a ripple to move
it's surface.
Cottages are dotted about here and
there, covered with roses and jasmine
and clematis, and the gardens are fill
cd with flowers.
A picturesque old house stands
alone upon the rising ground over
rocking the sea, sheltered from every
rough blast, with oranges and lemons
growing upon its walls, and myrtles
I'm full blossom under its abbey-like
windows.
From the hills inland the view is pas
toFal and idollic; there is a wood Of
tender green larches, with q back
ground OF dark-blue pines.
Fields of waving golden corn, fields
of emerald turnips and purple beets
and mangel.
Hedgerows festooned with wild ros-
%, briony and ~eglantine, Carpeted with
Drimroses, violets and ferns.
Narrow winding lanes, all overhung
with trees, with rustic stiles leading
from them across the country, and in
che distance lay O. village, from the
cottages of which the white smoke went
up, like summer clouds, into the azure
sky; and the steeple Of the old church
was peeping from among the many.
generation-old trees.
Capt. Bertram Berkely, who was
quartered with his regiment in the
same county, noticed it while out sail
ing In the regimental yacht, nesting,
like q tiny gem; in its verdant setting,
and fancy seized him to pay it a
visit.
There was not one of his brothers
officers of his own standing whom he
did not poster to accompany him
thither, till it became almost q joke
among them.
'tMv dear fellow" demonstrated his
great friend, Hubert Falkner, 1--WE
should be buried alive in such @ dull
place: why, there can be nothing on
earth to do there. Go, by all means,
il you want q fit of the blues, but
don't ask any one else to share your
fate.p
Wen, he obtained leave OF absence,
and he did go.
They took him to the little bay in
the yacht, and put him on shore, with
his small portmanteau, promising to
return for him that day week, and
sailed away again, laughing at Ber-
trans folly.
The first afternoon he enjoyed
thoroughly. Everything was so new,
and bright, and fresh, and lovely.
He found aqu&int, ivy.clad little inn,
where the landlady was apple-cheeked
a:sa SoAa-iG0kk;a and HI entrusted
himself for the week to her tender
mercies, and, having ascertained
from her the prettiest walks, he start
ed out for q round, inhailing the sea
breezes with avidity, and ended his
day upon the beach, where he sat till
dusk, lazily throwing stones into the
water.
That night he wrote to bis friend:
stDear Falkner-Ycu were wrong
not to come; 1t is charming Jolly lit.
tie inn and pretty little hostess. Love-
Nv walks; all I want is q compan-
ION. You had better join me.
Yours, B. b."
But Capt. Falkner did not see it In
the same light, and Bertram Berkels
remained alone.
The day after he followed q lane
whichh ehadnot noticed before. Itap-
pearedt to lead uptheroug andtangled
underground upon the hillside, and he
thought he might get that way to sea.
Suddenly he stopped, for before him
lay a home which was a perfect
idyl. Al m~any-gabled, golden
matched cottage of considerable size,
showing on all sides the signs Of affiu-
ence. It was covered with rare climb
ing plants; the very air was redolent
with the perfume oil the roses OF. all
sorts, which clustered in every availa-
Die spot.
The fences were rustic, and twined
with ivy and Virginia creeper.
The lawns were smooth az abilIiard
table, and soft as MOSS.
The flower beds we're filed with bios.
SONS; but Il was neither upon house,
ID lawn, d rustic work, nor flowers,
that his eyes we're fixed, but upon the
hgure Of b girl Of some twenty years
OK age, reclining ii q low garden chair,
iutently reading q book: and the more
be gazsd the greater grew his admira-
Afnn